ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can

do at a certain age range. Although each milestone has an age level, the actual age when a normally developing child reaches that milestone can vary quite a bit. Child development refers to how a child becomes able to do more complex things as they get older. Development is different than growth. Growth only refers to the child getting bigger in size. When we talk about normal development, we are talking about developing skills like:

Gross motor: using large groups of muscles to sit, stand, walk, run, etc., keeping balance, and changing positions. Fine motor: using hands to be able to eat, draw, dress, play, write, and do many other things. Language: speaking, using body language and gestures, communicating, and understanding what others say. Cognitive: Thinking skills: including learning, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning, and remembering. Social: Interacting with others, having relationships with family, friends, and teachers, cooperating, and responding to the feelings of others.

Developmental Milestones by the End of the First Month Movement

Makes jerky, quivering arm thrusts Brings hands within range of eyes and mouth Moves head from side to side while lying on stomach Head flops backward if unsupported Keeps hands in tight fists Strong reflex movements

Visual

Focuses 8 to 12 inches away Eyes wander and occasionally cross Prefers black-and-white or high-contrast patterns Prefers the human face to all other patterns

Hearing

Hearing is fully mature Recognizes some sounds May turn toward familiar sounds and voices

Smell and Touch

Prefers sweet smells Avoids bitter or acidic smells Recognizes the scent of his own mother's breast milk Prefers soft to coarse sensations Dislikes rough or abrupt handling

Developmental Milestones by the End of 3 Months Movement

Raises head and chest when lying on stomach lift head when held at your shoulder turn head from side to side when lying on his stomach Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach Stretches legs out and kicks when lying on stomach or back Opens and shuts hands Pushes down on his legs when his feet are placed on a firm surface Brings hand to mouth Takes swipes at dangling objects with hands Grasps and shakes hand toys

Visual turn head toward bright colors and lights Watches faces intently Follows moving objects Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance Starts using hands and eyes in coordination Hearing and Speech Smiles at the sound of your voice Begins to babble Begins to imitate some sounds Turns head toward direction of sound Social/Emotional Begins to develop a social smile Enjoys playing with other people, and may cry when playing stops Becomes more communicative and expressive with face and body Imitates some movements and facial expressions communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression) react to "peek-a-boo" games

Crosses her eyes most of the time. (Occasional crossing of the eyes is normal in these first months.) Doesn't pay attention to new faces, or seems very frightened by new faces or surroundings Still has the tonic neck reflex at 4 to 5 months

Developmental Milestones by the End of 7 Months Movement

Rolls both ways (front to back, back to front) Sits with, and then without, support of her hands Supports her whole weight on her legs pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands bounce when held in a standing position Reaches with one hand Transfers object from hand to hand Uses raking grasp (not pincer) play with his toes help hold the bottle during feeding

explore by mouthing and banging objects shake a rattle

Vision

Develops full color vision Distance vision matures Ability to track moving objects matures

Language

Responds to own name Begins to respond to "no" Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice Responds to sound by making sounds Uses voice to express joy and displeasure Babbles chains of consonants

Cognitive Finds partially hidden object Explores with hands and mouth Struggles to get objects that are out of reach

Social/Emotional

Enjoys social play Interested in mirror images Responds to other people's expressions of emotion Does not laugh or make squealing sounds by 6 months Does not actively reach for objects by 6 to 7 months Doesn't follow objects with both eyes at near (1 foot) and far (6 feet) ranges by 7 months Does not bear some weight on legs by 7 months Does not try to attract attention through actions by 7 months Does not babble by 8 months Shows no interest in games of peek a boo by 8 months

Developmental Milestones by the End of 12 Months Social and Emotional

Shy or anxious with strangers Cries when mother or father leaves Enjoys imitating people in his play Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys Tests parental responses to his actions during feedings. (What do you do when he refuses a food?) Tests parental responses to his behavior. (What do you do if he cries after you leave the room?) May be fearful in some situations Prefers mother and/or regular caregiver over all others Repeats sounds or gestures for attention

Finger-feeds himself Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed

Movement

Reaches sitting position without assistance Crawls forward on belly Assumes hands-and-knees position Creeps on hands and knees Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position Pulls self up to stand Walks holding on to furniture Stands momentarily without support May walk two or three steps without support

Language

Pays increasing attention to speech Responds to simple verbal requests Responds to "no" Uses simple gestures, such as shaking head for "no" Babbles with inflection Says "dada" and "mama" Uses exclamations, such as "Oh-oh!" Tries to imitate words

Cognitive

Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping) Finds hidden objects easily Looks at correct picture when the image is named Imitates gestures Begins to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair, dialing phone, listening to receiver)

Developmental Milestones by the End of 2 Years Movement

Walks alone Pulls toys behind her while walking Carries large toy or several toys while walking Begins to run Stands on tiptoe Kicks a ball Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Hand and Finger Skills

Scribbles spontaneously Turns over container to pour out contents Builds tower of four blocks or more Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language

Points to object or picture when it's named for him Recognizes names of familiar people, objects and body parts Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months) Uses simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months) Uses two- to four-word sentences Follows simple instructions Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive

Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers Begins to sort by shapes and colors Begins make-believe play

Social

Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children

Emotional

Demonstrates increasing independence Begins to show defiant behavior Episodes of separation anxiety increase toward midyear then fade

Developmental Milestones by the End of 3 Years Movement

Climbs well Walks up and down stairs, alternating feet Kicks ball Runs easily Pedals tricycle Bends over easily without falling

Hand and Finger Skills

Makes vertical, horizontal and circular strokes with pencil or crayon Turns book pages one at a time Builds a tower of more than six blocks Holds a pencil in writing position Screws and unscrews jar lids, nuts and bolts Turns rotating handles

Language

Follows a two- or three-component command Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects and pictures Understands most sentences Understands physical relationships ("on," "in," "under") Uses four- and five-word sentences

Can say name, age and sex Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they) and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats) Strangers can understand most of her words

Cognitive

Makes mechanical toys work Matches an object in her hand or room to a picture in a book Plays make-believe with dolls, animals and people Sorts objects by shape and color Completes puzzles with three or four pieces Understands concept of "two"

Social

Imitates adults and playmates Spontaneously shows affection for familiar playmates Can take turns in games Understands concept of "mine" and "his/hers"

Emotional

Expresses affection openly Expresses a wide range of emotions By 3, separates easily from parents Objects to major changes in routine

Developmental Milestones by the End of 4 Years Movement

Hops and stands on one foot up to five seconds Goes upstairs and downstairs without support Kicks ball forward Throws ball overhand Catches bounced ball most of the time Moves forward and backward with agility

Hand and Finger Skills

Copies square shapes Draws a person with two to four body parts Uses scissors Draws circles and squares Begins to copy some capital letters

Language

Understands the concepts of "same" and "different" Has mastered some basic rules of grammar Speaks in sentences of five to six words Speaks clearly enough for strangers to understand Tells stories

Cognitive

Correctly names some colors Understands the concept of counting and may know a few numbers Approaches problems from a single point of view Begins to have a clearer sense of time Follows three-part commands Recalls parts of a story Understands the concept of same/different Engages in fantasy play

Social

Interested in new experiences Cooperates with other children Plays "Mom" or "Dad" Increasingly inventive in fantasy play Dresses and undresses Negotiates solutions to conflicts More independent

Emotional

Imagines that many unfamiliar images may be "monsters" Views self as a whole person involving body, mind and feelings Often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality

Developmental Milestones by the End of 5 Years Movement

Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer Hops, somersaults Swings, climbs May be able to skip

Hand and Finger Skills

Copies triangle and other geometric patterns Draws person with body Prints some letters Dresses and undresses without assistance Uses fork, spoon and (sometimes) a table knife Usually cares for own toilet needs

Language

Recalls part of a story Speaks sentences of more than five words Uses future tense Tells longer stories Says name and address

Cognitive Milestones

Can count 10 or more objects

Correctly names at least four colors Better understands the concept of time Knows about things used every day in the home (money, food, appliances)

Social

Wants to please friends Wants to be like her friends More likely to agree to rules Likes to sing, dance and act Shows more independence and may even visit a next-door neighbor by herself

Emotional Milestones

Aware of sexuality Able to distinguish fantasy from reality Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative